Loud snoring is caused by the fluttering motion of a floppy palate. Some time ago, Walter Reed Hospital in Washington began research into shrinking and stiffening the palate using Sotradecol.
"The treatment is effective, very simple, cost effective, and well tolerated with minimal pain," says Eric Mair, MD, ear, nose and throat surgeon at Walter Reed. Other methods of treatment, such as UPPP (uvulopalaropharyngoplasy) and laser therapy, while effective, are painful and expensive.
Earlier this month, Walter Reed Hospital published a follow-up study on the effectiveness of the treatment. New data indicates that: "Injection Snoreplasty, a procedure that quiets snoring with a relatively painless and inexpensive shot in the upper palate, is as effective as other treatments." The procedure can be performed in an otolaryngologist's office, thus avoiding the expense of a hospital stay.
THE FINAL CONCLUSION
The authors of the study believe that Injection Snoreplasty has a relapse rate of 16 percent, which is comparable to other treatments for primary snoring. They assert that the procedure has the advantage of simplicity, minimal pain and inconvenience, and low cost. Nine out of ten patients are satisfied with the procedure and would undergo the treatment again or recommend it to others. Pre and post-procedure objective measurements confirm the procedure is effective in reducing the amount of palatal flutter snoring and the associated noise. Additional research in the areas of the use of alternative agents and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea are currently underway.
Remember, injection snoreplasty is still an experimental procedure. Testing by ear, nose and throat specialists continues. Some specialists may begin to administer the procedure at this time; others will wait until additional research is conducted before deciding to perform injection snoreplasty.
A second method of treatment involves heating a needle electrode with radio-frequency energy to create lesions in the soft palate. This, like the Sotradecol injection, produces scar tissue that stiffens the palate. And, again, this treatment causes less pain and less expense. The drawback to this procedure is that several treatments are required as only one lesion can be made each time. This method of treatment is in the research stage at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine.
